Aggression Flashcards
What is the Limbic system
A system that processes information to form long term memories which influence our emotional state.
System includes= hypothalamus, amygdala, and several other nearby areas
What is the function of the amygdala
The centre of emotions and motivations. Involved giving us instinctive feelings/reactions to the environment- including aggression.
What was the procedure of Gospic et al.s Ultimatum game
Used a well established laboratory methods of assessing aggressive behaviour- the ultimatum game.
Proposer (confederate) offers to split money in a certain unfair way with respondent. If the responder accepts, the money is split as proposed but if the responder rejects the offer, both players receive nothing.
Participants in this study played as responders while have their brain scanners by fMRI- highlights activity in different areas of the brain. The researchers found that when responders rejected unfair offers (an aggressive reaction to social provocation), scans revealed a heightened response by the amygdala.
What did the researchers of the ultimatum game find from their procedure
Benzodiazepine drug (which reduces arousal of the automatic nervous system) taken before the game had two effects on responses to unfair offers:
1) It halved the number of rejections (i.e. reduced aggression)
2) decreased the activity of the amygdala. This is strong evidence of an association between reactive aggression and amygdala activity.
What can you say about the reliability of lab studies?
Lab studies have a higher reliability, due to higher controls, increased standardisation. Replicable, able to compare results
What can you say about the validity of the ultimatum game
Lacks mundane realism, the ultimatum game is an artificial task, higher internal validity
—> standardised reduced impacts of extraneous variables. Lower ecological validity, artificial environment.
What is serotonin
A key neurotransmitter that stabilises our moods or feelings of wellbeing
What does serotonin do to the brain
Serotonin impacts your entire body.
Enables brain cells and other NS cells to communicate with each other.
It has widely inhibitory effects on the brain as it slows down neuronal activity
What are two researchers that looked into the link between serotonin and aggressive behaviour
Denton et al. (2012)
Virkkunen (1994)
What did Denson eat al found that linked serotonin to increased aggressive behaviour
Found association between normal concentrations of serotonin present in the orbitonfrontal cortex (OFC) and reduced firing of neurons, which is in tern related to a greater level of behavioural self control. Shows decreased serotonin links to reduced self control + greater impulsivity
What did Virkkunen (1994) find about the link between serotonin and aggression
compared levels of serotonin breakdown in the cerebrospinal fluid of violent impulsive and violent non-impulsive offenders.
found levels were significantly lower in the impulsive offenders.
What is testosterone
Testosterone is an androgen (a male sex hormone)- both males and females have testosterone in their bodies, but males have the hormone more present in their bodies than females.
Often noted that men are more aggressive than women. Especially when testosterone is at highest concentration.
What did Dolan eat al (2001) find about the link between testosterone and aggression.
Positive correlation between testosterone levels and aggressive behaviour in a sample of 60 male offenders in UK security hospitals. These men often had history of impulsivity and personality disorders (psychopaths)
What did research into the link between progesterone and aggression show
Progesterone levels are lowest during and just after menstruation.
Ziomkiewicz et al. (2010)… or say research has found found a negative correlation between progesterone levels and self reported aggression. (Lower levels of progesterone increases aggression).
What are the two types of aggression that can come from, genetic factors
Physical and verbal
What did cockatoo’s 1997 study find about the rates of verbal and physical aggression in MZ and DZ twins
Cockatoo (1997) studied physical and verbal aggression in male adults for both MZ and DZ twins
For physical aggression= concordance rates were 50% for MZ and 19% for DZ twins
For verbal aggression= concordance rates were 28% for MZ twins and 7% for DZ twins
What is the MAOA gene
MAO-A (monoamine oxidase A) is an enzyme, that regulates the metabolism of serotonin (which is linked to aggression.
The production of the MAO-A gene is determined by the MAOA gene
What is the low activity variant of the MAO-A gene
The low activity variant of this gene MAOA-L results in low activity of MOA-A enzyme.
What is the process of the MAO-A gene and how does it link both the MAO-L and MAO-H to aggression
MAO-A enzyme breaks down/ mops up excess serotonin. This regulates serotonin levels within the brain.
The production of the MAO-A enzyme is found by the MAOA (gene). The MAOA gene divides into two variants: MAO-L and MAO-H.
MAO-L is when low activity of an enzyme production increases build up of serotonin in brain. This is linked to increased aggressive behaviour.
The second variant is the MAO-H gene which links high activity of the enzyme with decreased serotonin- this reduces the build up.
What research evidence supports the presence of the MAOA genes
Brunner et al. (1993) = studied 28 male members in a Dutch family who were repeatedly involved in violent crime. Researchers found that these men had abnormally low levels of MAO-A in their brains and the low activity version of the MAOA gene.
Carpi et al. (2002) = studied 500 children, those with MAOA-L were significantly more likely to grow up and exhibit anti-social behaviour, but only if they were maltreated as children. Those with MAOA-L without maltreated and those with MAOA-H with maltreatment did not exhibit anti-social behaviour.
What are ethnological explanations of aggression
Ethology is the study of how the forces of evolution have adapted the behaviour of animals
Early ethnologists looked at wild animals in their natural environment → concentrating on aspects of behaviour that has been passed down generations. These behaviours are used to explain human behaviours- by extrapolating the findings.
How can aggression be an adaptive trait
Adoptive for survival, because a defeated animal is rarely killed, but rather is allowed to establish territory elsewhere which reduces competition.
What did Konrad Lorenz note about aggression
Konrad Lorenz is the Australian zoologist considered to be the father of psychology.
Since not all acts of aggression lead to death, ritualistic behaviours- defined as a series of behaviours conducted in the same, set order are important.
What is the progress of aggression according to ethnological explanations
Stimulus= trigger in environment
Innate realising mechanism (IRM)= a built in physiological process.
Fixed action pattern (FAP)= causing behavioural pattern/ sequence to start
What did research by Timbergen (1951) with the male sticklebacks suggest about the ethological explanations for aggression
Male sickle back fish attack other males that invade its territory but only attack male fish with red bellies- not females. The did not attack fishes of the same shape without red bellies.
Any red indicates aggressive behaviour response due to its association with male sticklebacks.
The fish would even attack it the red was outside of the tank. If you removed the red berry midway through an attack male would still continue attacking.
What are Lea’s six key features of FAP’s
Lea (1984) six features of FAP’s
- Stereotypes: behaviour should all occur in the same way
- Universality: behaviour is found throughout species.
- Independence of experience: behaviour is not learnt
- Ballistic: actions cannot be changed once initiated.
- Singleness of purpose: behaviour is used in one context only. Behaviour cannot be used elsewhere even if it would be useful
- Triggering stimulus: behaviour is triggered by a certain stimulus.
What is the evolutionary explanation of human aggression
Evolutionary explanations in psychology focus on how patterns of behaviour have evolved through natural selection, in the same way that physical characteristics have evolved.
Because of natural selection, adaptive behaviours, or behaviours that increase reproductive success are kept and passed on from one generation to the next.
What is sexual jealously in evolutionary explanations
Evolutionary explanations could argue that this is due to cuckoldry (males who are unknowingly investing parental effort in offspring that are not genetically their own).
These mechanisms drive often aggressive strategies men employ to retain their partners and prevent them ‘straying’
What did Wilson and Daly’s 1996 study on male-retention strategies show
Researched and identified several male retention strategies that males display in relationships which involve aggression and even physical violence, including:
- Direct guarding= includes male vigilance over a partner’s behaviour. Eg. Checking their phones, telling them what to wear etc.
- Negative inducements= such as issuing threats of dire consequences. Eg. “Ill kill my self if you leave” etc.
What did Wilson et al.s follow up study on domestic abuse show
found that women who reported male retention strategies in their partners i.e. they agreed with statements like ‘he insists on knowing who you are with and where you are at all times’ were twice a likely to have suffered physical violence at the hands of partners.
Of these women, 73% required medical attention and 53% said they feared for their lives.
What did Shackleford et al.s 2005 sturdy on intimate partner violence show
Studied intimate partner violent (IPV) in 107 married heterosexual couples who had been married for less than a year.
Females were requires to fill out a spouse report questionnaire assessing how violent their partners were in the relationship. Males were required to complete a mate inventory questionnaire which assessed their mate retention behaviours in various categories like direct guarding/negative inducements etc.
What were the findings of Shackleford et al.s 2005 study
A strong positive correlation between men’s reports of their male retention behaviour and women’s reports of their partner’s physical violent. Men who used guarding or negative inducements (e.g. threat sot kill) were more likely to use physical violence against their partner.
What is bullying according to the evolutionary explanation of aggression
Bullying can be seen as the result of a power imbalance – because there is more powerful person vs. a weaker.
What did Volk (2012) argue about bullying being an evolutionary explanation of aggression
Volk (2012) argued that bullying is associated with traits that are attractive to the opposite sex i.e. for males: dominance, acquisition of resources. They may be seen as naturally selected i.e. they might improve chances of survival for the male and female and thus enhance reproduce success.
What did Campbell (1999) argue about bullying being an evolutionary explanation of aggression
argued that females might bully in relationships as a method of controlling their partner and securing fidelity.
What is the frustration aggression hypothesis
Any theory that argues behaviour is a result of an interaction between an individuals characteristics.
What is the social- psychological explanation
Any theory that argues behaviour is a result of an interaction between an individuals characteristics.
What dos social- psychological explanations account for that biological explanations do not
The heart of how people experience aggression.
Social- psychological explanations account for triggers that can lead to aggressive behaviours such as emotions, feelings or the environment.
Who created the frustration agggresion hypothesis
Dolllard of 1939
What did Dollard suggest
That frustration always leads to aggression. A result of frustrated emotions. The two must always be in balance.
What is the process of the frustration aggression hypothesis
Based on the psychodynamic concept or catharsis- the hypothesis sees aggression as a biological drive just as hunger
We experience frustration when we attempt to achieve a goal that is blocked (blocked goal). Frustration creates an aggressive drive leading to aggressive behaviours such as physical violence or aggressive outbursts.
What are the three reasons that aggression cannot always be expressed onto the source of frustration?
Abstract= the government, economics situation- due to someone being too abstract or powerful leads them to be unavailable for an individual to express their aggression.
Punishment= aggression is displaced onto someone weaker due to source of frustration being either too powerful or frightening
Unavailable= the source of frustration has left
What did Green et al;. 1068 study into the frustration hypothesis follow
Male uni students, given the chance to complete a jigsaw puzzle, their frustration was manipulated in 1 of 3 conditions.
1) Impossible jigsaw (they weren’t told it was impossible to solve)
2) Confederate interfering (and then they didn’t complete it as the timer ran out)
3) Confederate insulting participant for failing to solve the puzzle
What were the findings of Green et al.s study into the frustration hypothesis
Findings: The insulted participants gave the highest shocks followed by the interfering condition and lastly the impossible jigsaw condition.
All 3 of these conditions gave higher shocks than a control group
What are some of the environmental cues that influenced frustration
Berkowitz= frustration creates a readiness for aggression but the presence of aggressive cues in environment make up acting upon this much more likely.
Cues are an additional element of the frustration- such as weapons cues or intense arousal.
What was the procedure of Berkowitz and Le Page study
Student participant to be given electric shocks by a confederate in a lab station, creating anger and frustration. Then participants then had the opportunity to turn the tables and give electric shocks to the confederate.
What were the findings so Berkowitz and Le Page’s study
The number of shocks given by the participant depended on the presence of absence of weapons in the lab:
- when two guns were present on the table next to the schlock machine- number of shocks went up by 6.07
- with no guns present, average number of shocks were significantly fewer at 4.67
(This is called the weapon effects)
What does aggression social learning theory state
children learn aggressive behaviours from observing and imitating aggressive models
How does Bandura link vicarious reinforcement to aggression
Children observe the models aggressive behaviours being rewarded. They learn aggression can be more effective in getting what you want. This is vicarious reinforcement
How does vicarious punishment link into SLT aggression
Models are seen to be punished for aggrieved behaviours- in this case children are less likely to imitate that behaviour.
What is self-efficacy in SLT aggression
The extent to which we believe our actions will achieve a desired goal.
They learn that if they have the motor skills necessary to force another child to hand over a toy, and that this ability comes easily to them.
The child’s sense of self-efficacy develops with each successful outcome.
He or she is confident that because their aggression has been effective in the past it will come to be so in the future -> in other words, they learn that aggression works and that they are good at it.
What is Banduras Bobo Doll study in 1961
Young children individually observed adult role model assaulting an inflatable plastic toy ‘Bodo doll’- aggressive behaviours including throwing, kicking and hitting the doll.
The children were given a short period of time with no toy stimuli. They were then taken into another room where there was a Bodo doll.
What were the findings of bandura’s Bodo doll study 1961
Without provoking the children imitated the behaviour they had seen performed by model, both physically and verbally.
Compared to another group that observed no aggressive behaviour from adult models. Aggressive behaviour towards Bodo doll by these children were almost non existent.
What is the de-individuation theory
In everyday life as an individual, we are easily identified by our Behaviours in social settings.
De-individuation theory focuses on our behaviour in crowds.
Le Bon argues this is because in crowds we loose our identity and responsibility over our actions.
How did Zimbardo distinguish between individuated and deindividuated behaviours
In an individuated state our behaviours is more rational and normative. I.e it conforms to social norms and values.
In a de individuated state, our behaviours are emotional, impulsive and irrational- loosing self awareness of our actions
What situations promote de-individuation.
Drugs
Alcohol
Uniforms
Masks and disguises
Crowds
The dark
What did Dixon and Mahendran 20120 state that supported Le Bon’s theory
“Anonymity shapes crowd behaviours”
- this promotes less fear of consequences as you are unidentifiable within a faceless crowd- this promotes aggressive behaviours as the bigger the crowd the more anonymous an individual feels.
What is private self awareness
How we pay attention to our own feelings and behaviours- this is reduced in crowds where we are less critical over our behaviour which leads individuals to a deindividuated state
What is public self awarensss
How much we care about what other people thing of our behaviour. This is also reduced in crowds, realising we are one among many we are therefore anonymous and less accountable for our actions. We are also less likely to be judged
Who are figured that de-indivduation may be due to two types of awareness
Dunn and Roger’s
What was Dodds research procedure
229 psychology students from 13 classes that were asked the question “if you could do anything humanly possible with complete assurance that you would not be detected or held responsible what would you do”
Students were aware their responses were completely anonymous
What were the findings of Dodd’s research
36%- involved in anti-social behaviour
26%- actual crimes, such as robbing a bank
A few opted for murder or assassination of a public figure
9% proposed prosocial behaviours- helping people
What can we conclude from Dodd’s research into de-individuation
Study creates a correlation link between de-individuation and anonymity and the production of aggressive behaviour
What two factors does the institutional aggression theory focus on
Dispositional factors and situational factors
What did John Irwin and Donald Cressey (1962) argue
INSITUTIONAL model argues that prisons are not completely insulated from everyday life in the real world. Prison inmates bring with them (import) a subculture typical of criminality.
This includes beliefs, norms, attitudes and a history of learning experiences as well as other personal characteristics such as gender and ethnicity his dispositional explanation is based on
individual nature (e g inherited temperament) and also nurture (e.g social environment).
What would dispositional factors state that aggression is a product of
Individual characteristics
Who conducted the study of juvenile offenders when looking at institutional factors that affect AGGRESION
Mat DeLisi et al. 2012
What was the procedure of Mat DeLisi eat al.s study
juvenile offenders in Californian institutions who had negative backgrounds (e.g. childhood trauma, anger, histories of substance abuse and
violent behaviour.
These individuals were importing these characteristics (and the resulting dispositions) into prison. The researchers compared this group with a control group of inmates who did not have these negative features.
What was the findings of Mat DeLisi’s study 2012
The negative inmates were more likely to engage in suicidal activity and acts of physical aggression
What is INSITUTIONAL AGGRESION
Aggressive or violent behaviour that takes place within the social context of a prison or other formal organised setting.
What is a dispositional explanation
An explanation of behaviour that highlights the importance of the
individual’s personality (i.e. their disposition). Such explanations are often contrasted with situational explanations.
What is a situational explanation
An explanation that identifies the causes of behaviour as existing within the environment, which may include other people. Such explanations are contrasted with dispositional explanations.
Who studied the deprivation model as an example of situational explanations of AGGRESION in institutions
Donald Clemmer 1958
What did Donald Clemmer’s deprivation model of AGGRESION in institutions suggest
deprivation model places the causes of institutional aggression within the prison environment itself, ie. a situational explanation.
Harsh prison conditions are stressful for inmates, who cope by resorting to aggressive and violent behaviour.
Deprivation of material goods is closely linked to aggression because it increases competition amongst inmates. Aggression is also influenced by the nature of the prison regime. If it is unpredictable and regularly uses ‘lock-ups’ to control behaviour, then this creates frustration, reduces stimulation by barring other more interesting activities and reduces even further access to ‘goods’ (such as television).
